Upper Perk's Wolfgang McStravick tries to escape the grip of Central Bucks South's Mike Mathis in the 112-pound championship bout in the District 1 AAA Section 2 Tournament held at Upper Perk High School last Saturday.

                Upper Perk’s solid finish to the dual meet season has officially spilled over into the postseason.

                After an impressive victory over Spring-Ford to close out the year, the Indians kept it rolling this past weekend at the District 1 AAA Section 2 Tournament held at Upper Perk High School.

                When the dust had settled from the all-day affair, the Tribe qualified 10 wrestlers for this weekend’s District 1 AAA North Tournament at Quakertown High School. The 10 qualifiers helped Upper Perk finish second in the team standings with 136.5 points, behind rival Quakertown (191.5), who also will send 10 to districts.

                As has been the case this season, Upper Perk’s sectional effort was highlighted by a strong underclass. Five of the 10 district qualifiers are underclassmen, including four freshmen.

                Dylan Steffenino, one of those freshmen, turned in the Tribe’s lone title as he swept the bracket at 103. Though just a freshman, Steffenino showed experience beyond his years as he opened with a pin and followed with a technical fall over C.B. East’s Mike Laurinaitis in the semifinals.

                In the championship final, Steffenino fell behind 5-0, then went racked up nine unanswered points to take gold by virtue of a 9-5 decision against Central Bucks South’s Nick Haegele.

                Rodenberger’s path to sectional gold came short against a quality opponent in Quakertown’s Scott Wolfinger. Rodenberger, a junior, pinned and won by major decision to get to the final.

                Hale won by fall in his opener, then added a 4-3 decision before his championship final loss to Robert Smothers, of Souderton, which needed two overtime periods before Smothers prevailed, 3-2.

                Avery Scripture (119) and Marty McStravick (135) grabbed third. Both the freshman and senior, respectively, were sidelined for a good part of the season but have returned in earnest for a postseason push. Scripture fell to eventual runner-up Tyler Seislove (Quakertown) in a 4-3 double overtime thriller and then won third with a 9-2 nod over Andrew Haughey (Pennridge).

                McStravick fell to eventual champ Seth Ehlo in the semifinals but used a pin in the consolations to avenge the loss.

                Ray Young (130), Dalton Fleming (152), Cody Ambrose (160) and Nate Pompei (171) all moved on to districts after taking fourth. Young won two matches – a 9-5 decision and fall, Fleming racked up two falls and fell to the Panthers’ Erich Koch in his consolation match, 3-2. Ambrose fell in similar close fashion, 12-11, in his medal match after he also worked for a fall.

                And Pompei, a junior like Ambrose, took fourth highlighted by 6-1 and 11-2 decisions.

                The top five place winners at districts will advance to the AAA Southeast Regional Tournament at Council Rock North on March 5-6, with the PIAA Tournament at the Giant Center set for March 11-13 in Hershey.